BMW Diesel Engine Issues: Timing and Power Loss?

Hey there! I have some experience with cars and had a very similar issue with my 2016 BMW 3 Series diesel last year. I feel your pain! Those symptoms sound exactly like what I experienced with mine. The ticking noise and power loss were driving me crazy! After trying a few things myself, I took it to a workshop. Turned out to be a faulty crankshaft position sensor, a common issue with these engines. The repair, including parts and labor, set me back about 340 Euro, but it fixed all the issues completely. Can you share more details about your car? Like the exact engine size and mileage? This would help confirm if we're dealing with the same problem. These BMWs are great cars but they can be quite sensitive with their sensors. Feel free to ask any specific questions about the repair process, happy to help!

Hi again! Thanks for sharing your experience. My BMW has 64121 KM on the clock and had its last service about 3 months ago. The symptoms you described with your car sound spot on to what I'm experiencing. The crankshaft position sensor definitely makes sense given all the signs. Did you notice any specific warning messages on the dashboard before getting it fixed? Also, did the workshop mention anything about preventive measures to avoid this issue in the future? I'd love to get more details about your repair experience, especially how long it took them to fix it. For now, I think I'll schedule an appointment with a workshop and have them check the sensor. Better safe than sorry! Thanks again for the helpful insight.

Hey again! Good to hear back from you. Yeah, with that mileage, it's about the same point where mine started acting up too. Before getting it fixed, I actually got a "Check Engine" warning, and the car went into limp mode a couple of times. Super annoying, especially when trying to merge onto highways! The computer also showed some error codes related to timing inconsistencies. The repair itself was pretty straightforward, took the workshop about 2-3 hours total. They mentioned these sensors can fail due to heat cycles and normal wear and tear. The mechanic suggested keeping an eye on the engine temperature gauge and avoiding extended idling periods, especially in hot weather. One thing I forgot to mention in my first reply, after they replaced the sensor, they also had to recalibrate the engine management system. That's probably why it took a bit longer than just swapping the part. Since the fix, my car's been running like new, no more weird noises, power's back to normal, and fuel consumption is where it should be. Just make sure you get a quality OEM sensor, the mechanic told me they've seen aftermarket ones fail pretty quickly. Let me know how it goes with your repair. Hopefully, it's the same straightforward fix as mine was!

Thanks so much for all these details! This is exactly what I needed to know. The limp mode and timing inconsistency errors are happening to me too, so I'm feeling pretty confident it's the same issue. Good to know about the recalibration requirement, I'll make sure to mention this when I book the appointment. Really appreciate the tip about getting an OEM sensor rather than aftermarket. I definitely don't want to deal with this problem again anytime soon! The repair time and cost seem reasonable too, which is a relief. I was worried it might be something more serious and expensive. I'll schedule the repair for next week and keep your advice in mind about the idling and temperature monitoring afterward. Thanks again for sharing your experience, it's been super helpful in understanding what I'm dealing with. I'll update the forum once it's fixed in case anyone else runs into the same problem!